LINDEN — A small plane crashed just northwest of Linden Airport early this afternoon, critically injuring a flight instructor and a student, authorities said.

The single-engine plane crashed in the former General Motors property, now an empty dirt lot just northwest of the municipal airstrip off Routes 1/9.

One was taken to University Hospital in Newark and the other to University Hospital in Rahway, Union County spokesman Sebastian D’Elia said. Their injuries and conditions were not disclosed.

According to one witness, the single-engine plane sounded like it had just taken off.
David Martinez, 21, who works at a shipping company adjacent to the GM property, said he was at a lunch truck about 1 p.m. when he heard what sounded like an aircraft in trouble.